Roosevelt Arch
Massive stone Roosevelt Arch gateway at Yellowstone National Park with a blue sky, arched opening, and grassy hills beyond.
View along the road toward Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone National Park, with a wooden Leaving sign and distant mountains.
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Roosevelt Arch

Natural Attr★★★★☆
Last Updated: January 2026

Overview

About This Attraction

A 52-foot-tall basalt arch spans the Gardiner road, its rough-hewn blocks forming a stout gateway. The main opening measures 30 by 25 feet with 12-foot-wide flanking towers, all built in a rustic aesthetic from locally quarried stone. This is a man-made monument, dedicated in 1903 and tied to Theodore Roosevelt’s entrance-era vision for Yellowstone, inscribed with the park’s foundational phrase. The rock’s volcanic origin ties the arch to Yellowstone’s deep-time volcanic history even ...

Best Time to Visit

Open year-round to vehicles; sunrise light hits the arch, and the golden hour provides strong photography opportunities.

Visitor Tips

  • Arrive early in peak season to secure parking near the north entrance.
  • Stand under the arch and look up through the opening for a frame that highlights the basalt blocks.
  • Watch for swallows nesting in the arch and keep a respectful distance.
  • Arch Park offers picnic tables; plan a quick stop before continuing your drive.
ℹ️ Data Sources

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